I'm just procrastinating

Day nine of the No Junk food for me plan.... No chips, no fast food, no candy, no soda. It's a little tough.
Senoir Thesis are no fun especially when your major source is written in Middle English and there is no translation....
oh well...

God's bricks

You know God is trying to get your attention when four or five brothers and sisters in Christ, independent of each other, all tell you the same thing within the space of 72 hours!
Thanks family! love y'all lots!

Why we must vote

This post is in response to members of the Christian brotherhood who are contemplating not voting this year because of all the problems with the Conservative Republicans, such as the Mark Foley scandal.
I have two points to make before explaining why we must vote

1. Conservative Republican does not equal righteous. Just because a particular political stance is a Biblical does not mean that the person who articulates that stance is a Christian. I mean, the most conservative Republican in the Senate, Orin Hatch of Utah, is a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which does not believe in the Trinity (How one can call himself a Christian and deny the basic principles of the faith is beyond me, but that is for another post) Two examples of popular Conservatives who are not Christians are Newt Gingrich, a solid Conservative who I would never vote for in any election, because of what he did to his wife (Divorcing her while she was on her sick bed), and Phil Giordano, The former mayor of Waterbury who ran against Joe Lieberman in the last Senatorial election in CT as a family values conservative, who was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for violating the civil rights of two little girls who he sexually abused
2. The people that we elect are human- that means they are going to mistakes. This is not to say that we should not hold them to high standards, because we should. But we need to rid ourselves of the assumption that the Conservatives in office are going to be perfect, and that every political decision they make is going to be the right one

That being said, here is why we must vote.

While not every Conservative is a Christian, the Conservative platform on social morality is closer to Biblical standards. While the Conservatives are not perfect, Who would you rather have as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, or Dennis Hastert? Nancy Pelosi is committed to promoting an agenda which directly contradicts what the Bible has to say on the issues of abortion, and gay marriage. If we don't vote, those who oppose God's ways will have an immense amount of political power, and we will lose our voice in government

Secondly, if we do not vote, we lose the right to complain about how things are going. If we don't vote why should we be allowed to complain? If we don't vote and the God -haters take over Congress, the result will be exactly what we deserve

Most importantly, it is our duty before God to vote!
Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. In the Gospel of Luke Chapter 19, Jesus tells us the parable of the talents, in which the Lord tells his servants to "Occupy till I [the Lord] come" I looked up the word occupy in the dictionary and here is what it had to say:

1 : to engage the attention or energies
of2 a : to take up (a place or extent in space)
b : to take or fill
(an extent in time) 3 a : to take
or hold possession or control of b : to
fill or perform the functions of (an office or position)4 : to reside in as an owner or tenant -
oc·cu·pi·er /-"pI(-&)r/
noun

The Strong's Concordance has a slightly different defintion but it is also applicable

G4231
πραγματεύομαι
pragmateuomai
prag-mat-yoo'-om-ahee
From G4229;
to busy oneself with, that is, to trade: - occupy.

If we are to occupy till Christ comes, that means two things. First, and most importantly, we are to work to bring souls into the Kingdom, but secondly we are to get in the way of the devil's plans for our nation. If we idly sit by and let those who hate God and His ways seize control of the government, then we will get exactly what we deserve. If you think it is bad now, just wait and see what happens if we do not go and exercise our rights as American Christians.

Some things that easily could happen if we do not vote:

1. America will stop supporting Israel
2. Abortion on demand will be promoted
3. Gay marriage will be forced to be legalized in all 50 states
4. Christians who stand up against gay marriage will be prosecuted for "hate crimes"
5. Christians will be marginalized even more

The last thing Satan wants to see is the Christians go into the voting booth in an attitude of prayer. He wants to keep us from "occupying till Christ comes back" Don't allow Satan to get away with this!

Vote on November 7th!

TULIP part 2

Ok in my last post I said that would discuss my feelings on the P tenet of Reformed (Calvinist) Theology
To refresh:
P-Perseverance of the Saints-"Perseverance of the Saints is a doctrine which states that the saints (those whom God has saved) will remain in God's hand until they are glorified and brought to abide with him in heaven. Romans 8:28-39 makes it clear that when a person truly has been regenerated by God, he will remain in God's stead. The work of sanctification which God has brought about in his elect will continue until it reaches its fulfillment in eternal life (Phil. 1:6). Christ assures the elect that he will not lose them and that they will be glorified at the "last day" (John 6:39). The Calvinist stands upon the Word of God and trusts in Christ's promise that he will perfectly fulfill the will of the Father in saving all the elect."- This is the doctrine of "Once Saved, Always saved" or "The Eternal Security of Believers"

OK here are my thoughts on this issue. I do have some problems with the doctrine of "once-saved, always saved" and here is why. Let me be clear to start; I do not believe that one can "lose" his salvation, but I do believe that someone can, after trusting in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, reject Him so completely that they are no longer saved. Scriptural evidence for that includes Matthew 24:11-13
"Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Other Scriptures that seem to indicate this (that one can walk away from the faith) include the Parable of the Sower:

Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

I looked up the definition of the word offended in the Strong's concordance and here is what it has to say:

"σκανδαλίζω
skandalizō
skan-dal-id'-zo
To "scandalize"; from G4625; to entrap, that is, trip up (figuratively stumble [transitively] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure): - (make to) offend."

Another reason I do not believe in the doctrine of once saved always saved is because of personal experience. I know people who truly loved God at one time who at this moment are not saved because they chose to reject God in favor of something else. For those who say those people I am referring to were never saved, that contradicts Scripture because it denies the power of God to save them in the first place.

An additional problem that I have with the concept of once saved always saved, is that there are some who will use this doctrine to do whatever they want because if one's salvation is secure it doesn't matter what they do. This is contradicted by Romans 6:1

My father's pastor said one time "I believe in the Eternal Security of Eternal Believers (ie, those who endure to the end). Now that, I agree with!

I know many dear brothers and sisters who do not agree with what I have just said and they will use John 17:12, and Romans 8 as a defense of the Doctrine of once saved always saved, and I can understand where they are coming from. This is an issue where I have agreed to disagree.
As I told one such brother who I love in the Lord, If people are truly trusting in Jesus and following hard after Him, the issue of Eternal Security become completely moot, because they have made their calling and election sure

Anyway these are my thoughts on this issue. God Bless and have a great day!

TULIP is Not Biblical

This is a post that will probably create quite a stir, but I am going ahead with it anyway. In a recent posting discussion on Physicsgeek's and Peter Bedow's Blogs regarding the recent Veggie Tales- NBC controversy, PhysicsGeek made the following comment
"My last question: Why should VeggieTales exist at all? Why don't we just make a half-hour CG cartoon with a talking tomato telling us the Four Spiritual Laws or explaining TULIP?" Well, I for one would not want my kids to learn TULIP because it is unBiblical. For those wondering what I am referring to, TULIP is an acronym which describes the basic tenets of Reformed (Calvinist) Theology TULIP stands for the following

T-Total Depravity of Man- Mankind is, apart from God, unable to love God.This tenet is Biblical. (Explanations will follow, using Scriptures to make my arguments)

U-Unconditional Election-"Election means "choice." God's choice from eternity of whom he will bring to himself, is not based on foreseen virtue, merit or faith in the persons he chooses but rather is unconditionally grounded in his own sovereign decision. This does not mean that final salvation itself is unconditional; rather, it means that, in the Calvinist view, the condition upon which salvation hinges (faith) is given to those whom God has unconditionally chosen to receive it."-(From Wikipedia.com) Reformed .org has this to say: "Unconditional Election is the doctrine which states that God chose those whom he was pleased to bring to a knowledge of himself, not based upon any merit shown by the object of his grace and not based upon his looking forward to discover who would "accept" the offer of the gospel. God has elected, based solely upon the counsel of his own will, some for glory and others for damnation (Romans 9:15,21). He has done this act before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4-8).This doctrine does not rule out, however, man's responsibility to believe in the redeeming work of God the Son (John 3:16-18). Scripture presents a tension between God's sovereignty in salvation, and man's responsibility to believe which it does not try to resolve. Both are true -- to deny man's responsibility is to affirm an unbiblical hyper-calvinism; to deny God's sovereignty is to affirm an unbiblical Arminianism.The elect are saved unto good works (Ephesians 2:10). Thus, though good works will never bridge the gulf between man and God that was formed in the Fall, good works are a result of God's saving grace. This is what Peter means when he admonishes the Christian reader to make his "calling" and "election" sure (2 Peter 1:10). Bearing the fruit of good works is an indication that God has sown seeds of grace in fertile soil.This tenet, and the next one, are not Biblical

L-Limited Atonement -Limited Atonement is a doctrine offered in answer to the question, "for whose sins did Christ atone?" The Bible teaches that Christ died for those whom God gave him to save (John 17:9). Christ died, indeed, for many people, but not all (Matthew 26:28). Specifically, Christ died for the invisible Church -- the sum total of all those who would ever rightly bear the name "Christian" (Ephesians 5:25).This doctrine often finds many objections, mostly from those who think that Limited Atonement does damage to evangelism. We have already seen that Christ will not lose any that the father has given to him (John 6:37). Christ's death was not a death of potential atonement for all people. Believing that Jesus' death was a potential, symbolic atonement for anyone who might possibly, in the future, accept him trivializes Christ's act of atonement. Christ died to atone for specific sins of specific sinners. Christ died to make holy the church. He did not atone for all men, because obviously all men are not saved. Evangelism is actually lifted up in this doctrine, for the evangelist may tell his congregation that Christ died for sinners, and that he will not lose any of those for whom he died! (From Reformed.org) This tenet is not Biblical

I-irresistible Grace-The result of God's Irresistible Grace is the certain response by the elect to the inward call of the Holy Spirit, when the outward call is given by the evangelist or minister of the Word of God. Christ, himself, teaches that all whom God has elected will come to a knowledge of him (John 6:37). Men come to Christ in salvation when the Father calls them (John 6:44), and the very Spirit of God leads God's beloved to repentance (Romans 8:14). What a comfort it is to know that the gospel of Christ will penetrate our hard, sinful hearts and wondrously save us through the gracious inward call of the Holy Spirit (I Peter 5:10)! (From Reformed.org) This tenet is Biblical!

P-Perseverance of the Saints-"Perseverance of the Saints is a doctrine which states that the saints (those whom God has saved) will remain in God's hand until they are glorified and brought to abide with him in heaven. Romans 8:28-39 makes it clear that when a person truly has been regenerated by God, he will remain in God's stead. The work of sanctification which God has brought about in his elect will continue until it reaches its fulfillment in eternal life (Phil. 1:6). Christ assures the elect that he will not lose them and that they will be glorified at the "last day" (John 6:39). The Calvinist stands upon the Word of God and trusts in Christ's promise that he will perfectly fulfill the will of the Father in saving all the elect."- This is the doctrine of "Once Saved, Always saved" or "The Eternal Security of Believers"

Here is my explanation on Biblical/UnBiblical

T- Biblical; Romans 3:10 As it is written [Psalms 14,53], There is none righteous, no, not one: Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

U- Not Biblical! "God has elected, based solely upon the counsel of his own will, some for glory and others for damnation (Romans 9:15,21)" There are some because of the choices they have made to reject God, God has made "vessels unto dishounour" (see Romans 1:24). A loving and righteous God would NEVER send anyone to hell for something that was not his fault. If U is true, how does one explain Paul, who wrote Romans, telling Timothy in 1Timothy 2:1-4 "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. If God wants all men to be saved (ie experience eternal life with Him in heaven), why would He elect (choose) some to be eternally damned to hell? Other Scriptures that contradict this tenet include Ezekiel 33:11" Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? " Again, if God has no pleausure in the death of the wicked, but wants the wicked to turn to Him, why would He choose some to be eternally separated from Him? The point is that there are those who have chosen to reject Christ, but that God, who is love, could not have chosen anybody to be eternally cursed, with the possible exception of Judas Iscariot, whose betrayal and destruction were prophesied by David in the Psalms. (I say possible because Judas was not forced to betray Jesus- The Bible foretold of his decision, but God did not force him to do this. Again reference Romans 1:24)
L- Not only is this UnBiblical, This tenet is absurd. Those who believe this tenet point to Matthew 26:28, which says that Christ's blood was shed for "many". The problem, is that then they ignore verses such as I John 2:1-2: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. The "Whole World" is pretty inclusive. Other Scriptures that those who beleive this tenet are then forced to either ignore or rationalize away include I Timothy 2:1-4 (referenced above), John 1:7, John 12: 33, Titus 2:11, and John 3:16.I have called this tenet absurd because it does not make any sense. If God is love (I John 4:7) and this God , who is Love, chose to die for some men, why would He not die for all of mankind? It is ridiculous to think that a loving God would ever die for some and not all. No, Jesus Died for all of us. Another problem with this doctrine is that creates pride in Christians with the false notion that we are somehow more special that everyone else because God chose to save us and not the person next to us. It also turns non-Christans off to the message of grace and forgiveness that is found by trusting in Jesus because How can we really be sure that anyone of us is truly part of the "elect"? This doctrine also can lead to the problem of Christians who use their "Liberty as an occasion to the flesh" I mean if one's salvation is secure and they are part of the elect than it really doesnt matter what they do

I- Biblical! God's grace saves us (Ephesians 2:8-9) and The Father draws us to Christ by his Spirit working in our Hearts (John 6:44, Romans 2:4)

P- I will discuss this next post, because there is much I Want to say about the isssue of whether one can lose their salvation or not!

I suspect That this post may spark a very interesting debate on all of this. I Just ask that all comments be civil and loving in the Spirit of Christain Brotherhood